Course Overview

Power Pivot is a technology full of surprises: while still perceived as “Brand New,” in reality it reflects 15+ years of ongoing development at Microsoft. Armed with that industrial-strength depth, you will conquer an unlimited spectrum of analytical, reporting, and modeling needs.

The next surprise, however, is even better: A remarkable simplicity underlies all of that power. In fact, the most useful capabilities are conveniently the most learnable.

In this two-day training, former Microsoft engineering leader Rob Collie has filtered his years of Power Pivot education, writing, and consulting experience down to that set – the things anyone can learn AND retain in a short period of time, while simultaneously building a confident foundation for future learning. Together you will take a 100% human and pragmatic approach. He brings the technology’s power to you, not vice versa.

But that down to earth approach, geared toward absolute beginners, will give you analytical superpowers. This learning strategy is built on four pillars:

Fundamentals – short and simple, these fit onto a single 6-step flowchart (provided).

Patterns – “recipes” that you can easily follow and modify to solve business problems, without requiring PhD-level mastery.

Priorities – Focused on the capabilities that are most “bang for the buck.” Avoids topics that are too complex or too “niche.”

Examples – there is no reference guide quite like a working example that you can revisit when needed. Each student takes home dozens of such examples in workbook form.